Toyota also announced it was teaming up with China's Contemporary Amperex Technology Co. to supply and develop batteries for lower-emission vehicles.
Toyota is a late entry into the market for battery EVs in comparison to its rivals like Nissan. The automaker recently announced its plans to get half of its global sales from EVs and gasoline hybrids by 2025. To meet this early timeline, Toyota would need more-than-expected battery supply. This has prompted the Japanese auto giant to look beyond its long-term battery partner Panasonic Corp for new collaborations.
Toyota has strategized these developments amid a quick growth in the zero-emission vehicle market, when stricter carbon emission rules have shifted the focus to electric vehicles and hybrids from gasoline powered vehicles.
Toyota is planning to launch its first battery EV, a version of its C-HR/IZOA compact crossover in China in 2020.